Question about staying in the military?

Question

I am due to ETS next AUG..therefore i am in my 12 month window.......I am ever so grateful for the opportunity to serve this country....however I just became a single parent and I feel like I should get out for the sake of my child. Also I am pursuing a degree in Nursing and it would be pretty hard to do both at the same time and be a single parent....I am unsure what to do at this time....in 2 yrs I will be a nurse and i will be financially set.....I looked into ROTC and army nurse programs and they require me to be away from my son for long periods of time...I am 25 yrs old and I cant afford to make anymore bad decisions....any advice would be appreciated...thanks

BTW I am in the army reserve

Answer 1

I would get out, get your nursing degree and then re-enlist in the Navy as a nurse and further your career!

Answer 2

You can stay in the reserves and still pursue a nursing degree. You don't' have to go ROTC if the commitment would take you away from family...

But if you want to become an active duty officer you can still be taken away from your family. Then again so can your reserve commitment.

If you can get into a nursing program either Military or civilian I would try to do it. Nursing is a great field to get into and you will be able to provide better support for your child.

Have you checked with the VA. They used to have a nursing program. I've been trying to find out about it myself. I remember some time ago they would put you through nursing school but you had to work for the VA Hospital for a certain amount of time (I think it was about 3 years or year for year of school)

Answer 3

I'm Senator John Kerry, REPORTING FOR DUTY!

Answer 4

Well finish your time, you don't have a choice there. Get your degree I know you are tied up with all the responsibilities in your life. However you will regret it in the long run if you don't get your degree. If you are looking to join the military in your future full time. I don't suggest Navy, not being a single Mom. That choice is left to you I would either go full time Army or full time Air Force. Then again you could just go into the civilian world as a nurse. Either way you can win, you just have to make up your mind and set a goal for yourself. When your child gets older it will thank you. It took me 18 years to actually thank my Dad for his service in the military and the life he brought me around but he's proud of his newly enlisted Soldier.

Answer 5

A decision only you can make.  I was a single parent on active duty in the Navy.  What's the likelihood of signing for three years while you complete your degree?  It would be money coming in as well as the health and dental care benefits.  Have you checked into the programs that allow you to go to school full time while remaining on active duty?  The last one I knew of, paid for the final years of your education but then required payback as an officer.  Essentially, for every year of school they paid, you had to return two years...  Explore all of your options including those of staying and retiring (free money for the rest of your life and REALLY cheap healt insurance -- I pay $115 a quarter, $12 co-pay and $3 for most 30 day supplies of med.s)  Best of luck on the decision.